How Much Coffee Does America Import? | Import Bill & Origins

In 2025, the United States imported roughly $12.6 billion worth of coffee, with more than 99% of its supply coming from abroad since domestic.

You probably assume America drinks a lot of coffee—and you’re right. Nearly 195 million adults reach for a cup each week, according to industry surveys, and 66% say they drink it daily. But the beans that fill those mugs almost never come from U.S. soil.

The short answer: America imports almost all its coffee, spending billions every year to keep the caffeine flowing. Where that coffee comes from, how much we pay, and how the habit has shifted over the decades is a story of trade, geography, and changing tastes.

The $12.6 Billion Coffee Bill

In 2025, the United States imported $12.6 billion worth of coffee, making it the 45th most imported product in the country, according to trade data from the Observatory of Economic Complexity. That figure covers both green (unroasted) and roasted beans, plus instant coffee and extracts.

A few years earlier, in 2022, the World Bank recorded U.S. imports of unroasted, non-decaffeinated coffee at 1.42 billion kilograms, valued at $7.37 billion. The jump to $12.6 billion by 2025 reflects inflation, a broader product category, and rising demand.

To put that volume in perspective: those 1.42 billion kilograms of green beans alone would fill roughly 20,000 Olympic swimming pools. And that’s before factoring in the roasted and instant coffee that arrives already processed.

Why America Imports Nearly All Its Coffee

You might wonder why a country with such rich agricultural land can’t grow its own coffee. The answer comes down to climate. Coffee arabica, the species behind most specialty brews, requires specific conditions: consistent temperatures between 60–70°F, high altitude, and distinct wet/dry seasons. Most of the continental U.S. fails one or more of those tests.

Domestic production is limited to Hawaii (the Kona region on the Big Island) and Puerto Rico, which together contribute only a tiny fraction of what Americans consume. That’s why more than 99% of America’s coffee must be imported—a figure confirmed by the National Coffee Association’s overview of U.S. coffee origins.

The result is a supply chain that stretches thousands of miles, connecting U.S. roasters and drinkers to farms across Latin America, Africa, and Southeast Asia. It’s a dependence that carries economic, political, and environmental implications.

Where America Gets Its Beans

Latin America dominates U.S. coffee imports. In 2023, about 80% of all unroasted coffee entering the country came from that region, valued at $4.8 billion according to USDA charts. Brazil alone accounted for 35% of those green-bean imports, making it the single largest supplier by far.

Colombia came second, and in 2017 its unroasted coffee exports to the U.S. were valued at over $1.2 billion, slightly edging out Brazil’s $1.1 billion that year. More recently, USAFacts reports that in 2024, Colombia, Brazil, and Switzerland (mostly for processed or specialty coffee) together provided more than half of the $8.8 billion total coffee import value, a figure that includes roasted beans as well. The chart in the 1946 peak consumption USDA article shows how consumption patterns have evolved, but the sourcing geography has remained remarkably stable.

The table below summarizes the key 2023–2024 origin data for unroasted and total coffee imports.

Brazil also produces roughly 40% of the world’s green coffee beans overall, so its dominance in U.S. imports is no surprise. Colombia’s reputation for high-quality arabica keeps its beans flowing even at a premium price.

The Economic Ripple Effect of Coffee Imports

America’s coffee habit is not just a consumer expense—it’s an economic engine. The National Coffee Association estimates that total U.S. coffee spending exceeds $100 billion annually, supporting nearly 2.2 million jobs and contributing more than $343 billion to the economy each year.

Here’s a striking multiplier: for every $1 the U.S. spends on coffee imports, roughly $43 is generated in domestic economic activity. That covers roasting, retail, equipment, logistics, and the café industry. The coffee import bill is basically the seed money for a much larger domestic industry.

The connection between import dollars and domestic output is one reason trade policy around coffee remains relatively light. Despite its dependence on foreign supply, coffee faces far fewer tariffs and restrictions than other agricultural imports.

How American Consumption Has Changed Over a Century

You might think Americans drink more coffee than ever before, given the rise of specialty shops and cold brew. Per capita consumption tells a different story. According to USDA historical data, the peak year for per capita coffee availability in the U.S. was 1946, when the average American consumed 46.4 gallons—more than 700 cups. By 2005, that number had fallen to about 24.2 gallons per person.

The drop reflects several trends: the rise of soft drinks in the 1970s and 80s, changing work habits, and a shift from percolators to drip machines that use less coffee per cup. However, daily drinking rates have rebounded in recent years. In 2025 surveys, 66% of U.S. adults reported drinking coffee daily, the highest level in two decades. The top three origins 2024 data from USAFacts confirms where those beans come from today—still predominantly Latin America and, increasingly, Switzerland for processed roasts.

The table below compares historical per capita consumption with recent import volumes.

While per capita consumption hasn’t returned to its 1946 peak, total import volume is far higher because the U.S. population has more than doubled. More drinkers, each drinking slightly less on average, still add up to a massive total.

The Bottom Line

America’s coffee supply is almost entirely foreign—more than 99% of beans arrive from overseas, led by Brazil and Colombia in Latin America. The 2025 import bill of $12.6 billion supports an industry that generates over $100 billion in domestic spending and 2.2 million jobs.

Per capita consumption peaked in 1946 and has since settled at about half that level, but overall demand continues to grow with population and the popularity of specialty coffee. If you’re curious how your own habit fits into the national picture, the average American goes through about 9.3 pounds of coffee per year—a figure that adds up quickly given roughly 195 million weekly drinkers.

For a closer look at the trade numbers behind your morning cup, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s coffee import charts and USAFacts origin breakdowns offer a clear picture of where those beans travel from and how the supply chain has evolved.